NHRA

Baytown: Tom Hammonds preview

TEAM HAMMONDS LOOKING TO GET BACK ON QUALIFYING STREAK (HOLT, Fla., Mar. 26, 2009) -- Team Hammonds unfortunately did not qualify at NHRA Gatornationals, but is looking to get back on their qualifying streak this weekend at the NHRA Spring ...

Published: Jun 19, 2009, 7:48 PM

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TEAM HAMMONDS LOOKING TO GET BACK ON QUALIFYING STREAK

(HOLT, Fla., Mar. 26, 2009) -- Team Hammonds unfortunately did not qualify at NHRA Gatornationals, but is looking to get back on their qualifying streak this weekend at the NHRA Spring Nationals in Houston.

"At Gatornationals, we were off on our set-ups and did not do well on the back half of the track due to some engine problems, which caused us not to qualify," explains Tomi Laine, Team Hammonds crew chief. "We were able to take care of what caused these problems and are looking forward to qualifying this weekend."

Not wavering from his goal of steady improvement with patience since the beginning of the season, Laine bases qualifying this weekend on getting better with each run. Set-ups will be baseline, while making adjustments after each run turning it up a notch. He is expecting slower times for qualifying on Friday due to the projected rainy weather and fast times for Saturday qualifying based on forecasted good weather.

Either way, the No. 20 Race for Achievement Chevy Cobalt has not lost its power, and Laine is preparing to showcase it.

"With the data from last year's race, combined with data from testing and results from the three races this season, I am confident we will have a shot at racing on Sunday. We need fast times in the top half and will work at it by respecting the track."

Team Hammonds qualifying record is 2-1 at NHRA Spring Nationals, with its best showing in 2002 where they finished in seventh place of the qualifying field, but lost against Kurt Johnson in the first round of eliminations. Last year, the team just missed qualifying finishing in 17th place.

-credit: th

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